Tag Archives: City of Kentwood City Hall

Make it a musical Labor Day as WKTV features marathons of the 2019 summer concerts

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Relive the Summer of 2019 with the marathon showings of the City of Kentwood and the City of Wyoming’s summer concerts series. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


This Labor Day weekend will be filled with music on WKTV 25 as the station runs two marathon events featuring the summer outdoor concerts from both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood.

A tradition for many years, WKTV has features the City of Wyoming’s Concerts int the Park series on Labor Day, Sept. 2. This year, the station has included a marathon of the City of Kentwood Summer Concert series on Saturday, Aug. 31, giving residents from both communities away to enjoy the past summer before the school year starts.

The Crane Wives were a featured group at the City of Kentwood’s Summer Concert series. (WKTV)

Kick off the Labor Day holiday with the Saturday special of the Kentwood Summer Concerts. The concerts will be shown in the following order:

1:30 p.m. The Cranes Wives, a popular West Michigan band

2:50 pm. That Beatles Thing, hits from The Beatles’ catalog

4:20 p.m. Brena, oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country

5:55 pm. Melophobix, an alternative band with a funky musical outlook

7:05 p.m. Hannah Rose and the Gravetones,  funk, blues and rock n’ roll

Brena performed at both the City of Kentwood and the City of Wyoming summer concerts series. (Supplied)

On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, the station will air the City of Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park series. The concerts will be shown in the following order:

9:30 a.m. Midlife Crisis, oldies, classic rock band

11:05 a.m. Brena, oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country

12:40 p.m. Ray Watkoski and Family, polka music

2:10 p.m. Paradise Outlaw, Americana with Motown and Southern rock

3:40 p.m. Jared Knox, country music

5 p.m Jack and The Spare Tires, sixties, seventies, and eighties covers

6:35 p.m. Broadman Brown, country music

8:05 p.m. Daddyz Breakdown, classic rock

9:45 p.m. Shadows of the Night, music from the women of rock ‘n’ roll

11:10 p.m Brena, oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country

For more program information, visit wktv.org or go to the tab WKTV Schedule at the wktvjournal.org.

Kentwood’s PACE program promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy systems

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The City of Kentwood has adopted a program to promote the installation of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems in area properties. (U.S. Air Force Graphic)

 

By The City of Kentwood

 

The City of Kentwood has adopted a program to promote the installation of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems in area properties.

 

The Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program allows owners of commercial or industrial property to finance the upfront cost of energy or other eligible improvements and then pay the costs back over time through a voluntary assessment.

 

Established under the federal Property Assessed Clean Energy Act, PACE relies on funding through loans from private lenders arranged by property owners and developers.

 

By adopting the program, the City of Kentwood joins a growing list of municipalities striving to promote energy efficiency. According to Lean & Green Michigan, which operates the PACE program in Michigan, 22 counties and 13 cities and townships in Michigan have adopted the financing tool, including the cities of Wyoming and Grand Rapids.

 

“The PACE program establishes a new mechanism for our business community to finance energy projects,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “This economic development resource produces sustainability for our businesses by lowering energy costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

Program applicants may request financing for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, heating and cooling distribution systems, storm windows and doors, caulking, weather-stripping and air sealing.  Other forms of improvements could also include the replacement or modification of lighting fixtures and electrical wiring, as well as measures to reduce the usage of water or increases the efficiency of water usage.

 

Implementation of renewable energy resources could include biomass, solar and solar thermal energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and methane gas captured from a landfill, among others.

 

The PACE program provides a means of financing such energy projects with property owner-arranged loans from a commercial lender. No City monies, general City taxes or City credit of any kind may be used in connection with any energy project associated with the PACE program.

 

A PACE assessment is a debt of property. This means the debt is tied to the property as opposed to the property owner. In turn, the repayment obligation may transfer with property ownership if the buyer agrees to assume the PACE obligation and the new first mortgage holder allows the PACE obligation to remain on the property.

 

More information about Kentwood’s PACE program is available at kentwood.us.

 

Kentwood, to improve community access, tries new city hall hours starting Nov. 12

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City of Kentwood City Hall will be trying out new hours to better serve the community. (WKTV)

 

By City of Kentwood

 

The City of Kentwood will pilot new office hours at city hall for one year in an effort to improve customer service and access to government services.

 

Beginning Nov. 12, city hall office hours will change from its traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to the following:

 

Monday:  7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday:  7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday:  7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday:  7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday:  7:30 a.m. to noon

 

“We continuously evaluate and seize opportunities to improve customer service” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Amending our traditional hours seeks to improve access and better meet the needs of our working community.”

 

The city launched an online community survey in May regarding office hours for city hall. A majority of the respondents were in favor of amended office hours. In particular, results revealed an interest in City Hall opening before 8 a.m. and closing after 5 p.m.

 

With survey results in mind, the City identified alternate office hours that would meet the public need and provide greater access to in-person services, while also being mindful not to create an undue burden on staff nor require overtime. Many office hour scenarios were vetted before deciding on the new hours for a one-year trial period.

 

Due to the wide range of departments and tasks located at City Hall, interdepartmental flexibility remains a key component to achieving optimal performance. Department heads will retain their ability to schedule staff as they best see fit to achieve departmental and city objectives.

 

For more information on the City of Kentwood, visit kentwood.us .